Graffiti found on $26M East Bay Bike Path bridge weeks after reopening

BARRINGTON, R.I. — Less than a month after reopening, a newly rebuilt bridge along Rhode Island’s East Bay Bike Path has already been vandalized with graffiti.

The markings have been spotted in multiple locations on the span connecting Barrington and Warren, near the Tourister Mill complex. The bridge is part of a larger $26 million reconstruction project that restored two long-closed crossings along the popular path.

Both crossings had been shut down since 2019 due to safety concerns before recently reopening, restoring full access along the 14.5-mile route between Providence and Bristol.

Now, with graffiti appearing so soon after reopening, concerns are growing about how the structure will be maintained and protected moving forward. It remains unclear who is responsible for the vandalism or whether any suspects have been identified.

With the Rhode Island Department of Transportation making a significant investment in the project, some are questioning whether additional measures, such as surveillance cameras, should be considered to deter vandalism and protect the state’s investment.